Eight insurers have been named to the 2026 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, with Progressive topping the insurance contingent at No. 19 amid an industry navigating rapid AI adoption.
The annual ranking, compiled by Fortune and Great Place To Work, draws on confidential survey responses from more than 1.3 million employees. Scores reflect feedback on trust, innovation, company values, and leadership effectiveness.
Progressive has risen sharply through the Best Companies to Work For rankings in recent years. Great Place To Work data shows the insurer placed No. 54 in 2023, No. 35 in 2024, and No. 16 in 2025, before dipping slightly this year. The company says it has now featured on the list for eight consecutive years.
That recognition has tracked alongside a period of sustained growth. Fortune reported last September that Progressive nearly doubled its revenue over five years to reach US$75 billion in 2024, with roughly 40% of its workforce moving into new roles each year.
Crum & Forster, a property, casualty, and accident and health insurer headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey, made its debut on the list. MetLife was recognized for a fourth consecutive year, while First American Financial Corporation marked its eleventh straight appearance on the Best Companies to Work For ranking.
First American CEO Mark Seaton said the recognition "underscores the enduring strength of our culture and the shared commitment of our people."
"Their dedication to one another, to our customers and to our communities helps create a workplace that is grounded in trust, respect and opportunity," Seaton added.
Several listed insurers span multiple industry categories. Elevance Health, formerly Anthem, was categorized under health care, while SCAN Health Plan, a not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plan based in Long Beach, California, fell under ageing services. Ally Financial appeared under financial services.
The ranking lands as the insurance sector confronts the workforce implications of artificial intelligence. Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place To Work, said trust in an organization "is a leading indicator of business performance," noting that employees who trust their leaders are more inclined to adopt tools such as AI.
Yet industry-wide scaling remains a challenge. Research from Microsoft and Cognizant found that just 7% of insurers have successfully deployed AI across their organizations.
A Gallagher survey released earlier this year painted a more nuanced picture: while 63% of organizations have now operationalized AI, up from 45% in 2025, roughly half anticipate job insecurity or reduced engagement as a consequence. Fewer than half have communicated their AI strategy to employees.
Synchrony topped the overall list at No. 1, followed by Hilton and Cisco. Financial services and insurance was among the most represented categories, with 22 companies across the full ranking.
